Automatic pickup head adjusting device



Y. H. KURKJIAN 2,295,904

Sept. 15, 1942.

' AUTOMATIC PICKUP HEAD ADJUSTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 194;

Patented Sept. 15, 1942 AUTOMATIC PICKUP DEVICE I Yervant H. Kurkjian, Hawthorne, N. J. Application February 14, 1941, Serial No. 378,997

' 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic pickup head adjusting device for automatic phonographs and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and eflicient means for holding the pick-up head in a proper horizontal plane in a manner whereby the needle will. be held at all times at a proper angle irrespective of the I angle of elevation of the phonograph arm.

Afurther object of this invention is the production of a simple and eflicient means for swinging the pick-up head relative to the swing of the supporting pick-up arm, so as to retain the head in a proper horizontal plane whether the needle carried by the head engages the top record of a stack or only a single record placed upon a record turntable.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims. I

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a phonograph pick-up arm in one position, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the parts in a second position;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line H of Figure 1. Y

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that [I designates a phonograph arm such as a pick-up arm; which arm is pivotally supported upon a standard II on a horizontal transverse pivot l2, for vertical swinging movement. A pick-up head I3 is pivotally supported at the outer end of the arm In on a horizontal transversely extending pivot I I. A conventional needle I5 is carried by the outer end of the pickup head' l3, beyond the pivot ll, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The standard II is provided with an upwardly projecting laterally ofi-set extension l5 and a link I! is pivotally connected at one end to the extension I 6 by a pivot It, as shown. This link I I is connected at its forward end to the pivot I! of the upstanding ear 20 carried by the head The ear 20 is located just above the pivot I4 and in vertical alignment therewith. The pivot I8 is spaced from the pivot II the same distance that the pivot I 9 is spaced from the pivot ll. Consequently, as the outer end of the arm II is swung downwardly upon the pivot l2, the

Y face of one of the side walls link I! will retain the head I3 in a horizontal plane due tothe fact that the head is pivoted at II and the link I! is pivotally connected to HEAD ADJUSTING the ear 20 at I 9, and to the standard I I, at l8. The ear 20 is carried at one side of the head 13 and the link I! engages the outer face of the ear 20 and also engages the outer face of the extension |6 to permit the parts to freely swing and to avoid conflict with other parts which may be carried by the arm Ill. The link I! is adapted to extend longitudinally of and close to the inner of the arm ID, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a very simple and efiicient means has beenproduced for properly maintaining the pick-up head l3 in a horizontal plane irrespective of the angle of the arm Ill and its vertical position with respect to the records 2|. In connection'with automatic record-playing machines, it is the custom to support a stack of records such as the records 2| upon a turntable 22, the records being automatically changed from time to time or manually changed. As the heighth of the pile of reoprds is reduced or lowered naturally the tone arm may be bodily moved vertically on a standard or swung to an angular position. By means of the structure illustrated it is possible to pivotally support the arm I 0 on a standard ll fixed against vertical movement and the arm It may be swung upwardlyand downwardly at its outer end and due to the link connection H, the head l3 will at all times be held in a proper horizontal plane to support the needle l5 at a proper playing angle to obtain a maximum tonal quality as well as a proper volume of tone.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the construction of the present invention may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what I claim 1. A device of the class described comprising a supporting standard, an arm pivotally supported upon the standard, a pick-up head pivotally supported upon said arm on a horizontal pivot and adapted to be retained in a substantially horizontal position as the arm is raised and lowered, a link pivoted upon a horizontal pivot to the standard at a point in a vertical plane with the point where the arm is pivotally supported upon said standard, a horizontal pivot connecting the opposite end of said link to said pick-up head at a point in a vertical plane with and above the horizontal pivot of the pick-up head and adapted to retain the pick-up head in a substantially a link pivoted upon a horizontal pivot to the standard at a point in a vertical plane with the IQ point where the arm is pivotally supported upon said standard, a horizontal pivot connecting the opposite end of said link at one side of said pick-up head at a point in a vertical plane-with the horizontal pivot of the pick-up head and I adapted to retain the pick-up head in a substantially horizontal plane at all times and also adapted to permit the link to swing to the side of the pick-up head when said arm is raised.

YERVANT H. KURKJIAN. 

